Former top cop Phahlane ‘excited’ to appear in court
Ipid feels corruption, fraud charges will stick in court
Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane was “excited to be in court”, to face allegations of fraud and corruption.
Phahlane, who is on suspension, told Sowetan after a brief appearance in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court that he was happy to have his day in court.
He said the evidence against him would now be evaluated by the court of law instead of him being tried in the media.
“I am in court because I had said, ‘let us go to court’ so that those allegations can be presented there … I am excited because that is an opportunity for facts to be presented before court so that the presiding officer evaluates what is presented and arrive at a conclusion,” Phahlane said.
Phahlane appeared alongside his wife Brigadier Beauty Phahlane and used-car dealership owner Durandt Snyman.
According to the charge sheet, he and his wife are facing six counts of corruption for allegedly receiving or accepting gratifications from Snyman, who allegedly helped forensic supplies companies doing business with the police to pay him and his wife kickbacks. The trio was released on R10 000 bail each and the matter was postponed to March 12.
Phahlane asked why there was no charge relating to his R8-million house, which the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) was probing, or an R80 000 home theatre system that he received.
“For two years [Ipid] have failed to find who built the house, for two years you are investigating a music system?” he asked.
Moses Dlamini, Ipid spokesman, said they believe they have a strong case.
“If it was not strong they would not be appearing in court, which is what we always said that there is a case against the accused and the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] has agreed with us,” said Dlamini.